22 Account of Mamallaipur* [No. 30. 



the figure of Arjuna, is a neat little temple,* with a niche 

 and a figure in it. Just within the fissure itself is a figure 

 like that of the Mermaid, but in the native languages it has a 

 name purporting half woman and half snake. Scattered over 

 the face of both rocks there are many representations of men, 

 ascetics, monkeys, lions (or what are meant for lions), tigers, 

 antelopes, birds, satyrs and monstrous animals which it would 

 puzzle a naturalist of the present age to nomenclate. The 

 whole are executed with considerable spirit, and occupy a 

 space of about £400 square feet. A plate giving a represen- 

 tation of these sculptures is published in the 2d Vol. of the 

 Transactions of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and 

 Ireland. 



The story of the penance of Arjuna may be told as follows : 

 The five sons of Pandu raja lost their dominions in play 

 with their cousin Duryodhana ; who however played unfairly 

 and won through " guile and wicked stratagem." The con- 

 sequence was that they and their followers were banished 

 for twelve years and upwards, and were doomed to wan- 

 der in jungles, wilds Lnd solitudes. During this peri- 

 od the elder brother took counsel with the others, how 

 they m'ight repossess themselves of their patrimony after the 

 term of banishment had expired: and in order to attain this 

 it appeared desirable to gain the mantra Pasupatastra. This 

 mantra, or incantation, was of such wonderful efficacy, that if 

 it was uttered while in the act of shooting an arrow, the 

 arrow became inevitably destructive, and moreover possessed 

 of the power of producing or generating other weapons, 

 which not only scattered death on all sides, but were able to 

 cause the destruction of the whole world. This mantra could 

 be obtained only from the god Isvara, (a name of Siva) , and 



* At the South East corner of this little fane, in a sitting and stooping posture, and 

 entirely detached from the rock, is an admirable figure of an ascet.c, miserably ema- 

 ciated, which though somewhat worn by exposure to the weather, bears evidence to 

 the talent, skill, and anatomical knowledge of the Artist. M. 



